Global Operators Agree New Guidelines to Define How Internet of Things (IoT) Devices and Applications Should Connect to a Mobile Network, Ensuring Optimal Performance and Aiding Growth of IoTLondon:The GSMA today announced the publication of guidelines for the Internet of Things (IoT) market that outline how devices and applications should communicate via mobile networks in the most intelligent and efficient way. The report, IoT Device Connection Efficiency Guidelines,' has received the backing of leading mobile operators including AT&T, China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, Etisalat, KT Corporation, Orange, NTT DOCOMO, Tata Teleservices Ltd., Telef nica, Telenor Connexion and VimpelCom as well as ecosystem partners including Sierra Wireless and Jasper and aims to support device and application developers as the IoT market develops. The guidelines include a number of best practice areas such as data aggregation within devices, non-synchronous network access, application scalability and guidance on how to manage signaling traffic from de-activated or out-of-subscription SIMs.
It is imperative that the IoT market develops with the right standards and best practices in place, reducing undue pressure on mobile networks across the world and allowing the Internet of Things to grow unimpeded, said Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer, GSMA. The GSMA has worked closely with its operator members to develop connection efficiency guidelines that ensure that IoT device and application makers can follow a common approach to create efficient, reliable services that can scale as the market grows and we encourage all parties to adopt these moving forward.
The GSMA's IoT Device Connection Efficiency Guidelines' are intended for use by all players in the mobile ecosystem, ensuring that mobile networks can efficiently accommodate the increased number of connected devices and services resulting from the rapid growth of M2M. According to GSMA Intelligence, the total number of mobile connections is expected to reach 7.4 billion in 2014 rising to 10 billion by 2020. The guidelines will help IoT device and application developers expand the number of devices connecting to mobile networks, whilst preventing service outages and ensuring optimal performance that will ultimately enable the market to scale across a diverse range of sectors including automotive, transportation, utilities and health.
In addition to the guidelines announced today, the GSMA is also undertaking a project to develop a common set of acceptance tests for IoT devices and applications to ensure best practices are being followed. The project will establish a single, standard set of connection efficiency tests for IoT devices and applications, enabling players across the industry to develop and deploy IoT services with confidence.
The IoT Device Connection Efficiency Guidelines' is an initiative developed by the GSMA Connected Living programme. The programme is designed to help operators accelerate the delivery of new connected devices and services in the M2M market. It focuses on driving industry collaboration, promoting appropriate regulation and optimising networks to support the growth of M2M in the immediate future and the IoT in the longer term.
To download the IoT Device Connection Efficiency Guidelines' please go to: http://www.gsma.com/connectedliving/gsma-iot-device-connection-efficiency-guidelines/
For more information on the GSMA's Connected Living Programme please go to: www.gsma.com/connectedliving.
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OPERATOR QUOTES
AT&T
The growth of the Internet of Things brings a number of challenges with it such as the rise in the number of connected M2M devices and the huge demand they will place on mobile networks. The GSMA's IoT Device Connection Efficiency Guidelines advocate that the mobile ecosystem adopt a common approach to offset pressure on networks which creates a reliable and efficient network for everyone, said Cameron Coursey, Vice President of Product Development and Operations, AT&T Emerging Devices.
ETISALAT
Etisalat supports the GSMA's IoT Device Connection Efficiency Guidelines' and will promote its implementation within the M2M community. We believe that it will encourage the correct implementation of M2M services and accelerate the efficient expansion of the Internet of the Things, said Angel David Garcia Barrio, VP M2M, Etisalat Group.
KT CORPORATION
KT supports the initiative and the GSMA's guidelines that we believe will help with the predicted growth of IoT KT Corp.
NTT DOCOMO
With the rapid increase in the development and proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, NTT DOCOMO sees a significant need for the standardization of IoT devices based on the Connection Efficiency Guidelines promoted by GSMA, commented Naoki Tani, Managing Director of NTT DOCOMO's M2M Business Department.
TATA TELESERVICES LTD.
The M2M Market is poised to grow exponentially to 7 billion by 2020. The Indian M2M market, which is at a nascent stage, has also seen an uptake in Location Based Services and Smart Metering solutions in last few years and is on the verge of boom in adoption. Hence, it is a critical time to outline proper standards and IoT guidelines to avoid complications in upgrading and managing legacy devices in the future. Tata Teleservices Ltd. is thankful to the GSMA for initiating work on acceptance criteria for M2M devices which will result in a strong ecosystem for M2M adoption and usage.
TELEF NICA
These guidelines represent an important joint effort in the establishment of common standards that will accelerate the development of the M2M industry around the globe. Telef nica supports these initiatives which, through widespread participation, will greatly strengthen the mobile ecosystem. These
